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| Staff Writer |
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Marhaba Ya Sanafi, the winner of the French Classic race, leads an impressive field of 60 entries for the US$1-million Bahrain International Trophy. This year, the race has been elevated to Group Two status and will take place on Friday, 17th November.
The list of international challengers includes horses from eight countries, such as France, Germany, Britain, and Ireland, with an impressive 38 group winners among them.
Noteworthy contenders also include Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), a dual Group One winner from Godolphin, Horizon Doré, who recently won the Gr.2 Prix Dollar, The Foxes (Churchill ), who won the Gr.2 Dante, Coolmore's Point Lonsdale (Australia), a globetrotting horse, and Dubai Future (Dubawi), the winner of last year's Bahrain International Trophy. The 10-furlong race will have a maximum field of 14.
Yusuf Buheji, CEO, Bahrain Turf Club, said, “We are delighted that the Bahrain International Trophy has attracted such a strong entry. To have eight different countries represented and for the horses to be of such a high standard is very encouraging.
“The Bahrain International Trophy is our showpiece event and we are looking forward to staging the most competitive and valuable running of the race to date and welcoming runners and their connections from all over the world to Bahrain.”
Ed Veale, Director of Racing and International Relations for the Bahrain Turf Club added, “To have a total of 60 entries featuring 38 Group race winners, including three that have scored at the highest level, is fantastic and a reward for the sustained investment in the race by the Club.”
There has been an increase in prize-money for Bahrain's three Listed races, namely the Crown Prince's Cup, the King's Cup, the Al Methaq Mile, and the Bahrain Turf Series. The Bahrain International Trophy is not the only race to have received a boost in value, with each of the ten races in the series now worth US$80,000.